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Knucklehead Productions

Knucklehead Productions works in partnership with Rock Outlaws to bring live music performances to C

09/12/2023

If you’re a hardcore festival fan/attendee, then I’m sure you’ve seen what I’ve seen for the last few years. I really considered not speaking on this issue, however I could not refrain…

In 2017 a new festival hit the scene in Lynchburg, VA. It was a one day festival. After that year there have been six more festivals in VA. In 7 years total, this festival has been held at five different locations. If you know, then you know I’m speaking about the Blue Ridge Rock Festival, (BRRF). Through the four location changes, only two changes have been to move to a larger location but in 2020 the festival was canceled due to COVID. That gave the town, (Appomattox), more time to review the festival and its creator/promoter. The town then rescinded the permissions to hold it there.The other two locations canceled their permissions due to major issues.

This brings us to 2022 and 2023. This festival has been held at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, VA the last two years. This year has finally exposed the promoter to everyone of his true nature. A lot of people say this is a money grab for Jonathon Sly, however that theory is impossible due to the fact that Mr Sly has never profited one cent in seven years of his festival. His system of running the festival is every dollar that comes in is spent on more bands. However this will never be successful. It's been shown this year how he treats bands and staff that this is not done to be a dick, it’s done for lack of money to properly take care of his employees and bands. A complete festival does not cancel only due to weather, only until the weather passes and the weather did pass, but still the remaining festivals days were canceled. Canceled because employees walked out and went on strike due to conditions and treatment. It took one of the biggest bands in the world, (Slipknot), to feed the bands and staff by way of paying for catering. What is known as BRRF has been a fiasco for years, but Mr Sly really outdid himself this year.

Mr Sly has now made promises of at least partial refunds. In my mind this is highly doubtful. You have to have money to refund the millions taken from thousands of fans for entry. The bands aint going to give what they were paid to help, especially after they were treated.

Mr Sly makes the claims that the remaining days of the festival were canceled due to weather. Reliable sources have stated that is not the case. The true story is that the VIR canceled the lease effective immediately due to the level of incompetence present this year from the promoter. After only two years at this location. But, wait, two years at one location is all it takes for Mr Sly to wear out his welcome. It's been proven time and time again, about every two years to be exact.

Promoters need to take care of the talent they book. Promoters need to take care of the fans they ask to spend money to attend their shows. Promoters need to take care of the employees that make the show happen behind the scenes. Mr Sly was absent on the day of promoter school where he would’ve learned these valuable and required lessons. In my years in and out of this industry on a very low level I have come across many promoters and venue owners, and Mr Sly is by far the worst I ever encountered or known of.

Will BRRF return next year or even later? My opinion is a resounding NO! My Sly’s incompetence has now spilled over to destroy the fans' experience, an experience My Sly claims to be fan driven! Also, My Sly has effectively ruined his reputation in the industry. He simply will never regain the trust of valuable components of live entertainment, such as stage hands etc. On top of that, how many bands will actually sign up in the future to play a gig promoted by Mr Sly? I would venture to say approximately ZERO!

Thank you for taking the time to read my commentary on this issue. Next up is Louder Than LIfe in Louisville, KY. Now THAT'S a festival run by some top notch guys.

—Knucklehead

03/15/2023

Yea, I know it has been a very long time since the last update or post here. We have been on a bit of a hiatus.

However, I am here now to give my review and commentary on such a wonderful announcement.

On Saturday May 19, 2007 I attended my first ever Danny Wimmer Presents festival. Coincidentally that also was the first ever Rock On The Range in Columbus, Ohio at the Historic Crew Stadium. Just a single day festival. Since then there has been DWP festivals yearly, only missing a few through the years. I'd like to think I've made a career of attending DWP festivals. I've attended many, not only in Columbus, Ohio with ROTR and Sonic Temple, but also Inkcarceration in Mansfield, Ohio, Louder Than Life in Louisville, KY and Welcome To Rockville, in Daytona Beach, FL. After all those festivals here I sit 15yrs 9mnths 24 days, 189 months 24 days, 825wks 4 days, 5779 days later getting the text update from DWP with the announcement of the 2023 Louder Than Life line-up.

I literally was overcome by tears of joy! I swear that Danny Hayes & Danny Wimmer have made the decision to retire and this line-up will be their last, (of course not true I'm sure), it's just that damn good! The Dannys have outdone themselves once again with this line-up. This line-up is the best line-up of any festival in the history of mankind, spanning all genres of festivals! I do not say that lightly. I say it because it's fact! There never has been a better nor will there ever be a better festival line-up.

Now, as with all things, & as has become the case with festival line-ups through the years, I'm sure there will be some bitching, moaning, & complaining about this line-up whether in part or in full. To those of you that feel it to be necessary to partake in such activities I say, you're just wrong. Literally you're fu***ng wrong! There is nothing here to complain about! Like seriously, you need to retire from festivals, just quit spending the $1,000 of dollars, quit missing work, & just flat out never go to another festival ever!

In closing I will say that you need to get you're asses to Louisville, KY on September 20th and be on the Highland Festival Grounds from the 21st-24th! If you have to sell all your children into slavery on the black market to afford it, DO IT! You can make more children, you'll never see another festival line-up of this magnitude! If you need to get there & crawl into a sleeping bag on the sidewalk outside the gates the whole weekend, DO IT! The level of comfort & joy will far outweigh the level of discomfort!

Much love & respect to Danny Hayes, Danny Wimmer, & the entire DWP crew for such a wonderful line-up! I literally love you guys for this, possibly in an unhealthy way 🤣